The Average Lifespan of a Cat Breed by Breed Chart

From Siamese to Domestic Cat Breeds

Cats come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. As such, different cat breeds have different life expectancies. The average lifespan of a cat depends on a lot of variables -- from diet and exercise to their overall health to their breed. To get a better idea of your cat’s expected lifespan, check out this list of cat breeds and average ages.

Just like dogs, cats come in a number of different breeds, each with their own unique set of characteristics. Some cat breeds are big, some are fluffy, some are short, some are bald -- cats run the gamut. And, just like dogs, different cat breeds have different life expectancies. While a number of cat breeds are expected to live to be around 12 years of age, others routinely make it into their 20s. That’s a pretty big gap!

Your cat's lifespan is more likely to be affected by their diet, lifestyle, and whether or not they are on flea, tick or heartworm meds like Heartgard, Revolution for cats, or Advantage Multi for cats. That said, their breed’s average lifespan can be a handy piece of information to have. Here are the average lifespans of some of the most popular cat breeds.

My Havana Brown was 12.5. He died last night. I also had a ragdoll that lived 15, both within the lifespan on the chart

Ben Derks2017-04-05T18:18:19

your an a sshole - just fuck off --basic anough ?

DocCane532017-03-28T02:50:12

LOL! Honestly folks, just a little commonsense tells you we are not speaking of a mathematical average. The whole thread is unnecessary. Me, I've got a 14 year old domestic longhair kitty with a thyroid tumor. Average lifespan shows 12-14 years. So I'm taking the lead aggressive treatment option so we don't make his time remaining miserable. He's had an average good life.😁

Dave Levine2017-02-15T17:29:13

I'm amazed that Ragdolls live as long as Turkish Angoras as Rags are predisposed to HCM and other diseases that Turks are not.

Zennofobic2016-12-27T07:59:29

my tux is 13 and she's starting to do the same, this chart freaked me out because I know quite a few people with domestic shorthairs that have reached 20 so I'm hoping for the same for both of ours

Gary Ugarek2016-12-13T10:00:14

My American shorthair tuxedo turned 15 this year... she is so much fun to be around, I noticed she spends a lot of time just laying around lately and just observing... like that grandmother who watches over her grandchildren as they play.

Also recently acquired an Orange Shorthair tabby... he is a hand full, but my 1st fur baby is the tuxedo and I hope she gives me many more years of enjoyment.

ROGER HUGHES2016-10-16T19:11:02

had two adopted common a garden moggies one reached 28 the current one is cresting 22, So so far is averaging age is 25, lifespan still unknown ?two very stay at home un-injected cats..query schroedengers theorySorry about name of scientist.

Diane Scott2016-10-06T00:54:22

Thank you! I believe we spend way too much time OVER vaccinating our pets! My Panda (red point siamese or color point short hair) was pulled from the shelter at 8 weeks, was vaccinated as a kitten, spayed and hasn't seen a vet since, because she's been healthy. She never goes out, only gets fleas because the dog brings them in to her, so she's on flea prevention and eats dry cat food and as long as her box is clean, she never misses and she's 12! You didn't say what breed of cat yours is. I'm hoping to have Panda in the 20 year old range.

Diane Scott2016-10-06T00:48:23

I am a siamese mix, (red point siamese or color point short hair) in any event she's an orange colored siamese with big blue eyes! I pulled her from a shelter at 8 weeks. She's never been outside, except for a couple of accidents, spayed, on flea prevention and acts like a kitten @ 12 years! I lost my last cat, an orange tabby @ 10 years. I hope to have Panda a lot longer.

Joe P2016-09-29T14:04:20

We have a 21 year old exotic shorthair female w/papers so 12-14 years seems low.

John Edwards2016-08-18T23:24:04

"I knew someone had to drop it at come [sic] point."

drop what?

"I am not a [sic] English teacher.."

that much is obvious. much more than that to be sure, but that much at least.

Liberalimpact_com2016-07-05T20:06:07

Oh I wanna try!

1) 584.13 m2) when velocity = 03) 11 s 4) 78 m/s

Approximately...

Damaris Johnson2016-06-21T14:45:17

LOL! Cat ppl...

Vito Selvaggio2016-06-20T23:07:01

Average can mean two things. In this case, Average does not have a mathematical meaning. Average in "math" is the equivalent of a statistic "mean," which is ONE number. When people say average, they can also mean "typical." This is not mathematical. It's more of an observational norm. Look up what average means (no pun intended, haha).Sentence one: The average of the numbers 3, 4, and 8 is the number 5.That cat is an average cat because it lived about 15 years.Peace out.

leonffs2016-06-10T17:38:41

I can't believe these idiots are arguing over this on a cat blog post.

Tom cat2016-05-13T17:03:51

I have a moggy that's 49 years old he has a a level in maths and a degree in physics and can meow in latin when he was younger he worked for nasa building rockets out of toilet rolls

Tim2016-05-11T18:49:30

No it doesn't... Why correct people with incorrect information. Lifespan can be for one person or thing. How is the lifespan of one person or thing typical.

Tim2016-05-11T18:46:25

Oh my god, best read ever. You guys are awesome! Totally cheered when I saw the first f-bomb. I knew someone had to drop it at come point. The fact that this argument happened in a cat article makes it so so much better. I also happen to be a math teacher. And Steve, Jonathan said he took math "up to Calculus". I am not a English teacher but that means everything before Calculus, not including Calculus. Either way, thanks for making my day so so much better.

2CentsOfWisdom_orNot2016-05-03T03:23:54

Steve, whether you're right or whether you're wrong ( .. and I'm not saying I don't know because as a degree'd engineer and a math tutor, I have a definite opinion; but my opinion of that isn't the point .. ), it IS clear that -- as Jonathan Meadows pointed out -- you are an intellectual snob who takes pleasure in trying to put others down. Whether you're right or wrong doesn't matter; I'd be ashamed to have posts like yours, .. forever on the internet, .. with my name attached to them.

The simple physics problem you felt so compelled to present to make you FEEL superior to Jonathan is a basic first-year physics problem that I'm sure any pharmacist could solve. You act as though you're so smart and superior, yet "smarts" is always relative. I have two friends who are astrophysicists ( actually, one is a friend and the other is an acquaintance relative ) who, in comparison, make me and you and any Computer Science major look like retarded kindergartners when it comes to math.

And since you boasted of having an educational background in psych, you'd think you'd be educated enough about the psych "roles/games" that people play to not be too proud of the role you've chosen. For your life -- at least at this point -- you've obviously chosen the one where you are somewhat of a narcissistic "intelligence snob" because it's apparent that you enjoy trying to needlessly [ .. I'm not saying there's never a need, but certainly there wasn't in this case .. ] make others look small by overly promoting to make yourself look intelligent. You don't need to relate to humans that way; it's a very self centered, uncaring ( about others ) role you've chosen.

I understand your initial point: that it would have been more meaningful if the author of this article ( Sam Bourne ) would have said something like, "95% of the time, the lifespan of each breed noted will fall within the range shown". But then, IMHO, your attack on Mr. Meadows was well over the top.

No doubt, you know the terms you used, such as "confidence interval" and "standard deviation".. and even "normal distribution", are foreign to most of the people reading this article, so your use of them was senseless and obviously just an attempt to show off, .. which didn't look good on you.

I have a seal point that is almost 20. I sure hope he sticks around. I'm happy yours is still going and thanks for the post, it gives me hope. He has a little arthritis but still loves fetching bottle caps and chasing our Florida lizards that happen to sneak in the condo. I sure will be heart broken when he checks out. Whoops...I just realized your post is a year old. I hope your both still around.

Speedwell2016-01-10T16:33:29

I hope your kitty is still doing well :) Tempt her with bits of plain cooked chicken (no onions or garlic or anything but salt), Royal Canin Exigent food (you can get it at the pet shop) and flavor her water with a bit of water-packed tuna juice. If she won't eat, she won't eat. My sister-in-law just lost a precious kitty at 17, which is a great age for a cat (mid-to=late-80s in "human years"), and the only symptom was that the cat refused to eat. Definitely ask the vet to give her a look-over.

Wabefuhon2015-12-26T20:14:24

It comes down to diet and activity. Good luck keeping a cat alive for 30 years. That would be a Guinness record. As for giving milk to a cat, milk will cause diarrhea if too much is ingested. Just keep it shallow in a kitchen bowl, like what you would eat cereal out of. Be aware of when the cat is missing the litter box.

Chere2015-10-25T11:13:36

I have a shorthair, except its fur is unusually long (for a shorthair). Variation or a mix breed?

Jonathan Meadows2015-09-04T11:43:04

An average, mathematically speaking, is a single number - not a range. That's the only thing wrong with this chart. There's nothing WRONG with giving a range, but you shouldn't call it an 'average' if you're going to give a range. The chart should probably say "Typical" lifespan instead of average lifespan.

adam zinman2015-08-14T07:28:59

i have a american domestic short hair thats 28 and very active the key a little milk once a day,thats what mom says ,

kayla2015-03-30T01:03:17

Do you take him to the vet for regular shots? I don't ... and Kayla is still healthy at the age of 24.

rickscoco2015-03-04T20:37:52

I have a siamese mix that will be 24 next month..just wanted to see average age and he beat it by a couple of years as the average is 20.